U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris leads a field of four contenders in Florida's Republican Senate
primary with 38 percent of likely primary voters, 16 points ahead of Orlando attorney
William McBride, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

The winner of the September 5 Republican primary faces heavily favored U.S. Sen.
Bill Nelson, who is unchallenged for the Democratic nomination.

Trailing Rep. Harris is McBride with 22 percent, followed by LeRoy Collins Jr.,
the son of a former Democratic governor, who gets 11 percent, and Peter Monroe, former
head of the Resolution Trust Corp., at 3 percent. Another 24 percent of likely primary
voters remain undecided and 45 percent of those who choose a candidate say the might
change their mind.

There hasn't been much change in the numbers from a July 27 poll by the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University which showed Harris with 40
percent, McBride with 21 percent, Collins with 6 percent and Monroe with 3 percent.
Thirty percent of likely voters were undecided then.

"If Rep. Harris had only one opponent she might be in deep trouble. But having
three candidates splitting the anti-Harris vote is a major plus for her," said Peter Brown,
assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"So she's sitting on a 16-point lead a week before the voting in a race where there
has been little movement - all in all, a good place to be."

"Harris has a cadre of strong supporters that might be especially important in what
is expected to be a relatively low-turnout primary. Only a third of her supporters say they
might change their mind and vote for one of the other candidates," Brown added.

But even among likely primary voters - the GOP hardcore - she has higher
negatives than might be expected for a candidate for statewide office.
Only 36 percent of likely primary voters rate her favorably, while 25 percent view
her unfavorably; 22 percent have a mixed opinion and 14 percent say they haven't heard
enough about her to form an opinion. Each of her three opponents are so little known that
none has more than 18 percent rating him favorably.

By comparison, Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist, who leads the race for the
party's gubernatorial nomination, is viewed favorably by 51 percent, negatively by 11
percent. Even Tom Gallagher, who is trailing Crist by more than 20 points in the latest
Quinnipiac University poll, is viewed favorably by 32 percent, unfavorably by 17 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and
the nation as a public service and for research.
For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

7. (If registered Republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for United States
Senator were being held today and the candidates were Katherine Harris, LeRoy
Collins Jr., Peter Monroe and William McBride for whom would you vote?
(If undecided q7) As of today, do you lean more toward Harris, Collins Jr.,
Monroe or McBride? This table includes Leaners.

TREND: (If registered Republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for United States
Senator were being held today and the candidates were Katherine Harris, LeRoy
Collins Jr., Peter Monroe and William McBride for whom would you vote?
(If undecided) As of today, do you lean more toward Harris, Collins Jr.,
Monroe or McBride? *This table includes leaners.